Game 1 peaked with 22.6 million viewers from 10:45 p.m.to 11:00 p.m.as Golden State begun to pull away in the fourth quarter. The Splash Brothers combined for just 20 points in Golden State’s Game 1 victory. They certainly look unstoppable. But their bench was outscored 45-10 and Cleveland surrendered 25 points off 17 turnovers.
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Considering Cleveland has to win at least one road game in this series, this was clearly a missed opportunity.
“It’s something we will talk about but I don’t think it will be a problem”, Kerr said. But in Game 1, the Warriors demonstrated why such individual proclamations don’t win you a title. “We didn’t win anything”.
The Warriors’ 87 victories combined from their record 73-win regular season and the playoffs matched the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, the group Golden State topped for the most regular season victories in National Basketball Association history of 73.
The Big Three – LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love – got their numbers. “We said we need to come out and get something going immediately to start this finals and try to set the tone”.
The NBA said Love experienced dizziness early in the second half and left for the locker room to be re-examined, then was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol. He scored 3 points, shooting 1-of-3 from deep.
James put up 23 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in Game 1, but the Cavs’ offense lacked the flow that saw them rip through the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 12-2 record. The Warriors shot 43 of 87 for 49.4 percent Thursday. “The more experiences you go through, the better you are at handling anything that’s thrown at you”.
Golden State’s vaunted long-range sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson mostly misfired as Curry made 4-of-15 from the floor and Thompson shot 4-of-12 to combine for 20 points, 32 below their season’s scoring average. “You don’t know where it’s going to come from any given night”. And Curry got a postgame treat: He exchanged jerseys with Barcelona and Brazil soccer star Neymar. The Warriors, as a team, overpowered James and the Cavaliers, despite miserable offensive nights from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
“Stop it”, Green said with a chuckle.
“It’s not like we have any control over them”, he said. He went to the locker room late in the quarter after having hit his hand on the rim early and grimacing in pain.
While the outspoken swingman insists he just wants rings and isn’t yet ready to consider the Warriors among the best of all time, the typically quiet Thompson let loose a little. So we’ll be better next game. Should call for another great finals matchup.
Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue offered up similar sentiments after the 104-89 Game 1 defeat, which was played at a pace of 93.10 possessions per 48 minutes, a number that’s actually higher than the Cavaliers’ mark throughout the postseason. A photo montage was played as well just before the national anthem.
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A year ago in the NBA Finals, LeBron James declared himself the best player in the world. Curry actually had more turnovers (five) than field goals (four).
